releases: https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-criticizes-president-bush-for-restoring-mexico-city-gag-rule-on-family-planning
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-criticizes-president-bush-for-restoring-mexico-city-gag-rule-on-family-planning | CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE CRITICIZES PRESIDENT BUSH FOR RESTORING MEXICO CITY GAG RULE ON FAMILY PLANNING | 2001-01-22 | 2001 | 2001-01 | Democrat | House | CA | Barbara Lee | L000551 | lee.house.gov | legacy | 01.22.01 CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE CRITICIZES PRESIDENT BUSH FOR RESTORING MEXICO CITY GAG RULE ON FAMILY PLANNING Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today voiced her strong disapproval of President Bush's decision to issue an executive order that restored the Mexico City Policy. The Mexico City Policy, created by President Reagan in 1984, strips non-governmental organizations that receive federal funding of their right to engage in a full range of family planning services in other countries. This policy was in effect until it was rescinded by President Clinton on January 22, 1993. "The decision of President Bush to reinstate the gag rule will not unify the country or work to close the partisan divide." said Lee. "By selecting anti-choice cabinet nominees like John Ashcroft and Tommy Thompson, and by reinstating the global 'gag' rule on the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, President Bush has demonstrated that he will use his presidential powers to undermine the reproductive rights of the world's women." Approximately 600,000 women die each year of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death and disability among women aged 15 and 49 in the developing countries. The Fiscal Year 2001 Foreign Operations bill included $425 million for bilateral international family planning services and reproductive health education to families worldwide. This funding is now subject to the gag rule on abortion. "It is crucial that women across the world have fundamental access to health care," said Lee. "This executive order restricts family planning organizations from even speaking about family planning options or lobbying their own government on reproductive health matters." U.S. international family planning programs play a pivotal role in preventing unintended pregnancies and reducing the need for abortion worldwide. They are also crucial to preventing maternal deaths resulting from childbirth and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. In many developing countries, international family planning programs represent the only health care available to women and their families. "Granting funds for family planning programs means saving lives, promoting women's and children's health, and strengthening families and communities around the world," said Lee. "This restriction would be unconstitutional if imposed here in the United States, and should not imposed on organizations in other countries. Reinstating the global gag rule is extremely dangerous and shortsighted." "I am deeply concerned that as we enter a new millennium, the Administration is seeking to return us to a period in our history when women did not have control over their own reproductive health," said Lee. "This demonstrates the President's commitment to eroding a woman's right to choose, and I fear that this is only the first wave of an assault on the reproductive freedoms in our own country. Now, more than ever, we must stand up and defend those freedoms that we have struggled so hard to attain." ### Next Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |